NRCS New York Programs
Updated:
05/09/2008 NRCS technical experts help land managers and communities take a comprehensive
approach in planning the use and protection of soil, water, and related
resources on private and non-Federal lands, in rural, suburban, urban,
and developing areas. NRCS works in partnership with State and Local
conservation agencies to deliver a wide
range of programs necessary to enhance our natural resources.
Financial Assistance Programs
Easement Programs
Other Programs
Conservation Operations & Technical Assistance
The purpose of these programs is to assist land-users, communities, units
of state and local government, and other Federal agencies in planning and
implementing conservation systems to reduce erosion, improve soil and water
quality, improve and conserve wetlands, enhance fish and wildlife habitat,
improve air quality, improve pasture conditions, reduce upstream flooding,
and improve woodlands. This is the core conservation technical assistance
of the NRCS.
The objectives of the program are to assist individual landusers, communities,
Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other units of State and Local government and
Federal agencies to meet their goals for resource stewardship and assist
individuals to comply with State and Local requirements.
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Watersheds
and Flood Prevention Operations
This program
element actually contains two separate and distinct programs, Watershed
Operations authorized by Public Law 78-534, the Flood Control Act of 1944 and
Small Watersheds authorized by Public Law 83-566. The purpose of these programs
is to cooperate with State and local agencies, tribal governments, and
other federal agencies to prevent damages caused by erosion, floodwater,
and sediment and to further the conservation, development, utilization,
and disposal of water and the conservation and utilization of the land.
The objectives of this program are to assist local sponsors in assessing
conditions in their watershed, developing solutions to their problems,
and installing necessary measures to alleviate the problems. Measures may
include land treatment and structural and nonstructural measures. Federal
cost sharing for installation of the measures is available. The amount
depends upon the purposes of the project.
Accomplishments
Since 1954, more than 20 projects have been constructed under the Watershed
Program in New York. The majority of these projects were designed and built
to alleviate flooding and have benefited communities across the state through
flood protection and, in some cases, recreational opportunities they offer.
In the case of a single storm, (Hurricane Floyd), four completed flood
control projects accrued over $16 million in benefits because of the flooding
that did not occur when the storm moved through the southeastern part of
the state. At the same time, the Federal investment for new projects in
New York last year was only $2.7 million. This spending resulted in 26
jobs across the state and local sales of $3.3 million. When the benefits
attributable to Hurricane Floyd are added to the equation, the increase
in local sales for the PL-566 program is $22 million statewide.
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Emergency
Watershed Protection (EWP) Program
The Emergency
Watershed Protection program was authorized by
Section 216, Public Law 81-516 and Sections 403-405, Public Law 95-334. The purpose
of the program is to reduce hazards
to life and property in watersheds damaged by severe natural events. An
emergency is considered to exist when a watershed is suddenly impaired
by flood, fire, drought, or other natural causes that result in life and
property being endangered by flooding, erosion or sediment discharge. The
emergency area need not be declared a national disaster to be eligible
for assistance. This document requires
Adobe Acrobat.
 Emergency
Watershed Protection (EWP) Program Sponsor's Guide (466 KB)
Participation in the Emergency Watershed Protection program requires a local sponsor. This
guide describes the responsibilities and the process sponsors need to know about
in order to participate.
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Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program was reauthorized in the
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to provide a
voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes
agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national
goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible
participants install or implement structural and management practices on
eligible agricultural land.
EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the
implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of six years.
These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement
conservation practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural
production on eligible land may participate in the program. The
program's
activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives
program plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer that
identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the
resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards
adapted for local conditions. The local Soil and Water Conservation District approves the
plan.
EQIP may cost-share up to 50 or 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation
practices. Incentive payments may be provided to
encourage producers to carry out management practices for three years.
However, limited resource producers may be eligible for cost-shares up to 90 percent. Farmers
and ranchers may elect to use a certified third-party provider for technical
assistance. An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly,
cost-share or incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all
program contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill.
Individual contracts can be no larger than $225,000.
Accomplishments
EQIP projects have been
implemented throughout the state since its inception in 1997. Since the
authorization of the 2002 Farm Bill, New York has written approximately 960
contracts. About 11 million federal dollars came into the state through
this program in 2006.
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Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
(FRPP)
The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program provides matching funds
to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in
agricultural uses. Working through existing programs, USDA partners with
State, tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations to
acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners.
USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair market easement value of the
conservation easement.
To qualify, farmland must: be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or
local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan
for highly erodible land; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be
accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure
and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can
support long-term agricultural production. Depending on funding availability,
proposals must be submitted by the eligible entities to the appropriate NRCS
State Office during the application window.
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Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
The Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program is authorized
by Section 387 of Title III of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996. The purpose of the program is to develop habitat
for upland wildlife, wetland wildlife, threatened and endangered species,
fish and other types of wildlife. Objectives of the program are to provide
technical, educational, and financial assistance to eligible landowners
to address the protection of wetlands, wildlife habitat, and related concerns
on their land.
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Forestry
Incentives Program (FIP)
The Forestry Incentives Program is authorized under the Cooperative Forestry Act of 1978. The purpose of
the program
is to increase production of saw timber and pulpwood on non-industrial
private forests; to decrease, over time, expected shortages and rising
prices of timber; and to help ensure effective use of available forest
lands. The objective is to provide cost-share and technical assistance
to landowners to encourage voluntary installation of forestry practices
that promote good stewardship.
This document requires
Adobe Acrobat.
2000
Forestry Incentives Program - New York Summary (184 KB)
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Resource
Conservation & Development Program (RC&D)
The Resource
Conservation and Development program was authorized under Public
Law 97-98, 95 Stat. 1213. The purpose of the program is to improve the
capability of State and local units of government and local non-profit
organizations in rural areas to plan, develop, and carry out programs for
resource conservation and development. RC&D plans may address land
conservation, water management, community development, or other elements
including energy conservation, protection of agricultural land, or
protection of fish and wildlife habitats. The program also establishes
or improves coordination systems in rural areas. Program objectives
focus on improvement of quality of life achieved through natural
resources conservation and community development which leads to
sustainable communities, prudent use, and the management and
conservation of natural resources. There are several RC&D Councils in
New York.
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Grazing
Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI)
The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative
is funded as an earmark under the Conservation Technical Assistance authorization.
The purpose of the GLCI is to ensure that technical, educational, and related
assistance is provided to livestock producers who own private grazing lands.
GLCI is not a cost-share program. The technical assistance will offer opportunities
for: better grazing land management; protecting soil from erosive wind
and water; using more energy-efficient ways to produce food and fiber;
conserving water; providing habitat for wildlife; sustaining forage and
grazing plants; using plants to sequester greenhouse gases and increase
soil organic matter; and using grazing lands as a source of biomass energy
and raw materials for industrial products.
Accomplishments
New York State dairy and livestock producers once again benefited during
this past year from the activities and efforts funded through the Grazing
Lands Conservation Initiative. The NRCS earmark of $365,000 was
allocated to increase the amount of grazing land information, education,
and technical assistance reaching New York State dairy and livestock producers.
This funding resulted in 12 new jobs in the state and $700,000 in economic
activity.
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Wetlands
Reserve Program (WRP)
The Wetlands Reserve Program was first authorized under the Food Security Act of 1985, Title XII,
Public Law 99-198. The purpose of the WRP is to preserve, protect, and restore
the nations valuable wetlands. Wetland protection will improve wildlife
and migratory bird habitat, improve water quality, and provide flood water
retention, ground water recharge, open space, and aesthetic values. It
is a voluntary program. Participating landowners can establish conservation
easements of either permanent or 30-year duration, or can enter into restoration
cost-share agreements where no easement is involved. In exchange for establishing
a permanent easement, the landowner receives payment up to the agricultural
value of the land and 100 percent of the restoration cost. The 30-year
easement is 75 percent of the agricultural value and 75 percent of the
restoration cost. The restoration cost-share agreements are for a minimum
10- year duration and provide for 75 percent of the cost for restoring
the involved wetlands. In all instances, landowners continue to control
access to their land.
Accomplishments
The Wetlands Reserve Program is one of the larger programs in New York.
During the 1999 fiscal year alone, $3.1 million were spent on financial assistance
for the program, 198 contracts were approved, and 7,572 acres of agricultural
wetlands were committed to wetland restoration. The impact of these activities
translates into 44 jobs created by the program and $6 million in increased
sales of locally purchased goods and services across the state. A recent
survey reported that over 600,000 people hunt in New York and over 3 million
participate in wildlife observation activities each year. Expenditures
per person average $1,150 for hunters and $340 for wildlife watchers. The
WRP supports these activities by providing additional recreational opportunities
closer to home. A second study suggests that these recreational activities
constitute a value of $21 per acre of wetland, translating into an annual
benefit of $151,000 statewide during FY99 alone.
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Plant
Materials (PM)
The Plant Materials Program
was authorized under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment
Act of 1936, Public Law 74-46. The purpose of the
Plant Materials Program program is to:
- Assemble,
test, and release plant materials for conservation use
- Determine techniques
for successful use and management of conservation species
- Facilitate the
commercial increase of conservation species
- Provide for the timely development
and transfer of effective state-of-the-art applied plant science technology
to solve conservation problems
- Promote the use of plant science technology
To accomplish this purpose, NRCS maintains and operates a Plant Materials
Program as
part of its on-going coordinated conservation operations activities through
a network of Plant Material Centers (PMC) and Plant Material Specialists
(PMS). The Plant Materials program in New York serves states from Maine to West Virginia
through its Big Flats Plant Materials Center.
Accomplishments
The New York team has released 18 plant varieties to commercial production.
During the 1999 fiscal year alone, $1 million was generated through the
sale of these conservation plants from commercial nurseries and seed companies.
This revenue resulted in an additional $800,000 in the purchase of goods
and services nationwide. The benefits of these plants go far beyond their
commercial success as they work to stabilize stream banks, provide food
and shelter for threatened and endangered wildlife species, and conserve
the soil on badly eroded cropland. In this way, the Plant Materials Program
supports and contributes to the success of all other programs administered
by the NRCS in New York by making these plants available to solve resource
problems.
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Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP)
The Conservation Reserve
Program was authorized under the Food Security Act of 1985, Title
XII, Public Law 99-198. It is administered by USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation
(CCC) through the Farm Services Agency (FSA). Technical assistance is provided
by the NRCS. The CRP encourages farmers to voluntarily plant permanent
areas of grass and trees on land that needs protection from erosion, to
act as windbreaks, or in places where vegetation can improve water quality
or provide food and habitat for wildlife. Eligible producers must enter
into contracts with the CCC lasting between 10 and 15 years. In return
they receive annual rental payments, incentive payments for certain activities,
and cost-share assistance to establish the protective vegetation. The CRP
has been expanded in the past few years to also include a "Continuous Sign-up"
element along with the regular annual sign-up periods.
Accomplishments
The Conservation Reserve Program in New York has attracted participants
from throughout the state with over 55,000 acres enrolled in the program
as of October 1, 1999. Most of this land has been seeded to permanent grasses,
including native warm-seasoned grass species. In addition, the removal
of New York's most erosive and least profitable cropland from production
has reduced erosion by 288,000 tons statewide and has improved the net
returns to cropland still in production. Total Federal expenditures for
the program were about $3 million generating $3.7 million in local sales
statewide and creating 37 new jobs across the state.
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Urban
Resources Partnership (URP)
The Urban Resources Partnership
(URP) is a relatively new USDA initiative that encourages the use of conservation
partnerships, State; Local; other Federal agencies; local community organizations
and private sector organizations to carry out resource protection efforts
in specially identified urban areas. In New York two such cities have been
identified, New York City and Buffalo. The URP focuses on education, resource
protection and enhancement, community development projects and other efforts
in neighborhoods that have been traditionally under served by USDA programs. | 
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